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“I can’t explain it,” I said, feeling vulnerable for the first time in my life. “I need to protect her. I need her.”
“It’s not a need,” Gunnar told me. “It’s want and it’s intense, I get it, but you can’t go around stealing people’s daughters to take to bed. You know you’re not a forever kind of guy, you’re going to end up fucking her life so bad she’ll be homeless and probably dead in days.”
I felt a little annoyed that he couldn’t believe that I was being serious about this. My past history was dubious, I knew that, and I’d never thought I ever would settle for just one woman but I didn’t know women like Jolie existed. She consumed my thoughts day and night, she overwhelmed my senses in every possible way. How could he not see I needed him right now?
“You aren’t going to help me?”
“You’re insane if you keep this up,” he said. “I’m not going to watch my best friend get himself killed. I’ll tell your father.”
Betrayal.
I stood up, unable to keep myself seated with the knowledge my best friend was going to go behind my back to the man who couldn’t love his own child, and would rather fuck his way through the women in his life.
“Nice to know where I stand with you,” I said, as I backed away. Anger lacing through my veins as I headed for the door.
“Romy,” Ben stood up but I had already seen the kind of help I was going to receive. I left the apartment and ran back down to my car. There was one place I could stay tonight without anyone trying to fuck me over.
One place where I could find some clarity over this bullshit drama that had come to my front door.
I drove into the parking lot of the church and entered in through the Moreno side. Enzo wasn’t at his pulpit or lighting candles so I guessed he must have retired already. I headed down the hall that led past the offices and toward the sleeping quarters. They were sparse with just a bed and a bedside table with a bible on it but it was enough for sleep. I got to the first one and laid down on the bed, the door slightly open. I could hear muffled voices coming from Enzo’s office.
It was odd that he was having a meeting so late at night, and honestly, I should have just laid down and minded my own damn business but it just wasn’t in my nature. I got off the bed and moved to stand outside of his office which was the next room over. The door was slightly ajar, so I kept to the side to make sure no one saw me.
“Thank you, Father,” I heard Diane Caldwell say in her sweeter than candy voice. God, why was she here so late and in his office? “I cannot wait to speak with my daughter tomorrow about this.”
“Jolie is happy with the arrangement?” Enzo asked. I could hear the hesitancy in his voice. That wasn’t like him, but not everyone knew how to interpret his nuances of speech like I did.
“Of course she is,” I heard another voice say. A man this time, and not a voice I’d heard before. “How could she not?”
“Jolie is perfectly happy with marrying Paul here,” Diane said. “How could she not? She’s marrying royalty. Not many women can vouch for that, especially not in Verona.”
“Indeed,” Enzo replied. My heart rate sped up. They were marrying her off to that douche? “Well, have her to my confessional tomorrow morning.”
“Why?” Diane asked.
“Well, it is important she cleanse herself of any sins she may have committed. Entering into marriage should be sacred, and done so with a fresh soul.”
“Understood, Father,” Paul said. I could hear the meeting wrapping up so I disappeared back into my room and waited for their footsteps to disappear.
My heart raced in my chest, panic setting in. I had to get her away from that fucking family before she was locked into a marriage she didn’t want. I had to save my Jolie.
Jolie
Natasha was fussing over me as I opened my eyes. My face hurt and my back did too as I tried to sit up. She pushed another pillow behind me to help support me.
“Why are you crying?” I asked her, noticing the tears on her face. “Did he hit you too?”
“No,” she said. “I just…I fear for what he may do to you next if you continue to defy him.”
“I’m not staying here, Natasha. I can’t, not now. Look what he did to me for having fun like any normal eighteen year old would.”
“But, Jolie.”
“No,” I said quickly. “He called me his property, his fucking property. I’m a human being, not property.”
“He was merely upset that you were with Roman, he will calm down.”
I couldn’t believe she was taking his side. She’d always been stalwart about me being myself and having my own thoughts and now it seemed like she was taking an entirely new loyalty. Well, ever since I was back at least.
